Few parking spaces planned for facility

March 17, 2006|By Tim Kane

CRYSTAL LAKE — Many parking spaces aren't needed at a home for seniors because there would be few visitors, said an attorney representing a company that wants to build an assisted-living facility in Crystal Lake.

Eby Group of Kansas plans an assisted-living facility with 53 units and 38 parking spaces.

The city does not have a zoning classification for retirement homes, which fall under the category of high-density residential. Under that zoning, a 53-unit apartment building needs 121 parking spaces, two per unit plus space for visitors.

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the parking plan Wednesday night but held off on approval of the project at McHenry Avenue and Berkshire Drive because commission members wanted brick rather than vinyl siding.

Eby Group attorney Joe Gottemoller said that even with a daytime staff of 13, studies conducted by his client indicate that the facility would need only 20 parking spaces.

"We all like to think that we're going to go visiting a relative every weekend at, say, a nursing home. But that doesn't happen," Gottemoller said Thursday.